Photographic flash synchronization equipment



Aug/18, 1942;

O. STEINER PHOTOGRA'PHIC FLASH SYNOHRONIZATION EQUIPMENT OriginaI Filed July 19, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet,2

Irv/Denim": Oscarflfieinazz K 41-.)

' Aug. 18, 1942.

o. STEINER PHO'YOGR'AEHIC FIJASH SYNCHRONIZATIOVN EQUIPMENT 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed July 19-, 1940 tzl Inveuior: Oscar Steiner,

02 iiisynchronization equipment.

Patented Aug. 18, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFVFI'IA/CE I PHOTOGRAPH) FLASH EQUIPME SYNCHRONIZATION Oscar Steiner, Irondequoit, N. Y., asslgnor to The Folmer Graflex Corporation, Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Original application July 19, 1940, Serial No. 348,395. Divided and this application April 1 5,- 1941, Serial No. sea-e14 16 Claims. (Cl. 67-29) This application is a division of my co-pending application Ser. No. 346,395, filed July 19, 1940.

. This invention relates to photographic flash Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary detail inelevation of Fig. 1, showing the connecting clevis between the shutter operating lever and the 'magnetic-tripper connecting-arm; v

Fig. 3 is a detail in side elevation of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a side view of the camera and equipment showing the battery case on the camera box and the magnetic tripper on the lens board,

the camera being open and a bulb in place ready for operation;

Fig. 5 is a front view in elevation of the battery case removed from the camera, showing the position of the reflector support bracket, the reflector being removed and the batteries being shown in dotted lines;

Fig. 6 is a vertical cross section through the magnetic tripper which is in non-operative position, the coil not having been energized;

Fig, 'l is a view similar to Fig. 6, the coil having been energized and the armature having moved downward, carrying with it the shutter operating connecting link;

.Fig. 8 is an enlarged, perspective detail of the base of the magnetic tripper; i

Fig. 9 is a diagram of the wiring as required for remote control; and

Fig. 10 is a circuit diagram of the synchronizer equipment, showing the connection for the operation of the: front shutter.

I am aware that there have been numerous devices produced for the purpose of synchronizin the flashing of a photo-flash lamp with the opening of a photographic shutter, but so far as I am aware they have all been very limited in their scope of operation, have been hard to adjust and the accuracy of such adjustment has been difllcult to maintain.

I have by my invention provided a synchronizing equipment that is readily adaptable to all types of camera shutters, both the front or between-the-lens type and the focal-plane shutter type, and such equipment of my invention readily lends itself to precision manufacturing. The parts of the equipment as constructed in accordance with my invention are of great strength and they coordinate effectively in their several adjustments, whatever be the type of camera upon which they are used.

My present invention particularly relates to a magnetic tripping device allowing the maximum adjustment of time delay between the time of flashing the lamp and the operation of the shutter, means being provided for quickly disconmeeting the magnetic tripper from the shutter operating or release lever when other than instantaneous exposures areto be made.

The foregoing and other. features of my invention are fully set'forth in the following description.

Making reference first to Figs. 1 to 3 and 4, the casing of the camera is indicated generally at 20. While the invention may be applied to any desired type of camera, I have chosen t'6 illustrate the same as applied to the well known Graphic type of camera. The synchronizing equipment of my invention can, however, be applied to any type of camera having the usual between-the-lens shutter or the usual focal plane shutter or having both such shutters.

The camera is preferably provided with a detachable lens board 2i carrying a between-thelens shutter 22 having a lens 23. Attached to the camera casing 20 is a battery-case bracket 24, and the ends whereof are attached to the camera casing by screws 24a, 24a, the shape of the said bracket 24, as herein shown, being such that .it extends sufllciently about the range finder 25 usually provided on such type of camera. A bracket of different construction may, of course,

be used when the camera does not carry a-range The battery case is indicated generally at 26 and is made up of two parts clamped or otherwise removably secured together and supported by a clamp member or ring 21, which is itself secured to the battery bracket 24 by a clamping lever 28.

The battery case 26 is so constructed as to carry a flash lamp or bulb 29. A reflector 30 is also provided for the purpose of concentrating the light of the said flash bulb upon the object to be photographed.

I have indicated generally at 3| in Figs. 1 and 4 and in detail in Figs. 6 and 7, a magnetic tripper at 3!. This is preferably attached to the lens board 2| by means of two or more screws I 39 1, one screw only being shown. Said magnetic tripper 3| is electrically connected to battery case 25 by means of a cable 92 and a plug 33 shown in Fig. '1. An operating or release lever 34, which may be of usual construction and which is provided upon the shutter 22, is operated by a shaft or rod 35 provided with a connecting bar 36 for engaging a clevis 31 attached to the shutter operating or release lever 34 by means ota pin 98. The structure of the magnetic tripper will be described in detail at a subsequent point.

Returning to the structure of the battery case 29, shown in Figs. 1 and 5 particularly, the case itself is made up 01' two preferably cylindrical sections 49, 4|, the section 49 being the upper and the section 4i being the lower one. For ordinary use, I have provided two dry cells of some well known type of manufacture.

The camerahaving the synchronized equipment attached thereto haaas shown in side elevation in Fig. 5, the reflector 30 supported by a reflector bracket 43 attached to the upper battery-case section 49, which serves to support said reflector in such position that it can be readily adjusted along (that is, lengthwise oi) the said bracket 43. The reflector 30 is provided with a clamping bracket 44 and a clamp screw 45. When the latter is loosened the reflector 30 can be adiusted up and down along the bracket 43, and thus can be set in proper position with respect to the flash lamp. 29 which is heldto the battery case 29 bymeans of a clamping socket having operating arms 49,- and jaws 41, 41, fully disclosed at a subsequent point inthe specification. An operating button 42 is provided for completing the circuit through the flash-lamp 29 'and the magnetic tripper 3| when the front or betweenthe-lens shutter is provided. When. however, the synchronizer equipmentis to be used in cooperation with the rear or focal-plane shutter, I provide in coniunction therewith a structure which may be such as is disclosed-in my Patent No. 2,188,065, dated January 23, 1940, and which therefore need not be more fully described here In such use there is provided an operating button 43 indicated in Fig. 4, which is carried by a flat spring member or arm 49 hinged to a. suitable bracket attached to the upper battery-case section 49, the parts being so constructed that the spring member or arm 49 can be turned downward so that the connecting plug can be positioned for operating the focal plane shutter. I

The battery case 25 (but with the reflector re- I moved) is shown in Fig. 5, which indicates how tery cells 13, I4, causing contact to take place between the positive connection 13a'1(shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5) and the positive contact member 15. An auxiliary lamp control button is indicated at H. An auxiliary lamp is indicated generally at 39 in Figs. 1 and 4.

The auxiliary lamp 39 is not only used in 10'- cating the object to be photographed, but it is used for adjusting the position or angle of the reflector 30, so that the reflector will throw the light in the proper direction for making the desired photograph.

In order to complete the circuit through the photo-flash lamp 29, and the batteries to the operating button 48, which is insulated from the arm49, there is attached a contact disk I28. As

indicated in the circuit diagram Fig. 10, when then through said battery to the contact of batthe reflector bracket 43 is attached to the battery case. The said bracket 49 is providedwith a hooked formation or member 63 which engages a hole 94 in the upper battery-case section 40. In

order to remove the bracket 43, it is merely necessary to apply downward pressure on the bracket 43.

As, indicated in Fig. 5, the connecting plug 93 has been removed from a socket 61 in the battery case, thereby exposing contact members 58 and 99. A second socket 10 is provided on the left hand side oi',the battery case as the same is viewed in Fig. 5. Within said socket are contact members H and 12. In Fig. 5, the batteries 13, 14 are indicated in dotted lines. They have positive contact members 13a, Ha respectively. and the lower battery-case section 4| is provided with a spring 15 for maintaining a contact to or with the negative side of the battery cell, said spring also serving to apply upward pressure on the battery l4, then through said battery to battery-case sections 4| and 40, through battery socket memhere 41, flash-lamp base 88 and lamp contact I09, thus completing a circuit through the photoflash lamp 29 and the batteries.

v The said switch arm 49 is so constructed that it can be swung downward away from the connector members 53 and 54, so that the focalplane shutter connector can .be attached to the said connectors 53 and 54, thus putting the focalplane shutter contacts in series with the photoflash lamp29, and if contact is made between said contacts, a circuit will be completed, thus causing the flash lamp 29 to be ignited. When the magnetic tripper 3i is in use, the switch arm 49 overlies the contacts 53 and 54, thus preventing anyone from connecting any auxiliary device to those contacts, which, if done, would cause the flash-lamp 29 to b flashed inadvertently. To permit'the use of additional flash-lampsremote troni the battery case, there'are provided two additional sets of connectors 58, 69,11, 12, which are in parallel with the photo-flash lamp base by means previously described.

If, however, a magnetic tripper is connected to either set of connectors 68, 69 or H, 12, the magnetic tripper will also be in parallel with the photo-flash lamp 29. I have provided a magnetic tripper to be used with the equipment, thereby making it possible to make photo-flash exposures by any one of'the threewell known methods, the first of which is the so-called "open and shut method, wherein the camera shutter is set at bulb exposure, and th shutter is caused to be opened at the same time that contact button 48 is pressed, whereupon the shutter is immediately allowed to close. In this method,

however, the exposure time is limited by the dunectors 53 and 54. The third method of photoflash synchronization is carried out through the use of an electro-magnetic tripper for operating the front shutter.

My improved means for operating the front or between-the-lens shutter will now be described,

more eflectively than any-magnetic tripper with y which I am familiar.

As shown in Fig. l, the said tripper is mounted on the lens board 2I, being carried by a bracket I36 secured to said lens board by screws I360.

While this is its preferable location, I am not limited thereto. A portion of the said bracket I36 is shown in Fig, 6 also. Upon such bracket is mounted a cylindrical casing I31 having a threaded neck I33 passing through a hole in said bracket and held thereto by a cylindrical cap us.-

To the lower end of said cylinder is attached a metal base I46 having an upwardly extending cylindrical member I constituting a stationary armature, and a stop or projection I42 so as properly to position the base in said cylinder I31. Said'base I46 is held in the cylinder I31 by means of a locking screw (not shown) engaging a threaded hole I43. Over the cylindrical member or armature I is fitted a non-magnetic tube I44 preferably of brass and around said tube is wound a coil I46 of insulated magnetic wire. On the upper end of the coil I45 is placed an insulating washer I46, and on the lower end an insulating washer I41. The said base I46 is prowith the disk I61, at which time the shaft or rod 36 will travel with the armature or solenoid plunger I6I until it reaches its limit of action.

In order to adjust the length of space between the disk I61 and the partly closed endof the sleeve I62, so that the initial stroke of the movable armature or solenoid plunger I6I can be varied, there is provided an adjusting sleeve I66 having acircular hole I69 forthe passage of said shaft or rod 35. In a groovein said shaft or rod 36 is placed a cylindrical ring I16 engaged by the top wall of the adjusting sleeve I63, when the said shaft or rod 35 is moved in an upward direction under the influence of the shutter actuating arm 34,: shown in Figs. 1, and 2. It will be apparent that, because of the presence of I the ring I16, by turning the adjusting sleeve I63 vided with two holes I460, I46a, shown in Fig. 8,

through which pass two insulating bushings I46, I43. On the lower side of the base I46 is another insulating washer I49 and on the top face of said base are placed two small insulating'washers I66,

. I66, and passing therethrough and through the tube I43, washer I49, and'wire lug III, is a metal eyelet I62 spun over on each end, thus holding the assembly to the base I46. Passing through a hole in the insulating bushing I41 in the metal eyelet I62 are two leads I63, I64 of the coil I46. The lead I63 is attached to lug I6I and the lead I64 is attached to lu I6Ia. The connecting cable 32 is made up of wires I66, I66. This constitutes the preferred means for connecting the coil I46 with the cable 32. The base I46 has a downwardly extending member I61 threaded on the lower end, and fitted over the said member I61 is a wire shield or guard I66 held in place by a nut I69. A hole I66 is provided in th shield I63 for the passage of-the cable 32. Fitted into the upper portion of the tube I44 is a movable magnetic armature or solenoid plunger I6I having attached thereto a sleeve I62 by means of a l About said sleeve I62 is a coiled spring I64 tending to thrust th said sleeve and rivet I63.

the armature or solenoid plunger -I6I upward until the limit of motion is reached at the cylindrical cap I39. Riding in a space I66 of the sleeve I62 is a disk I61 attached to the shutter tripping shaft or rod 36 in any well knownmanner, said shaft or rod 36 and the disk I61 being entirely free to move within the space I66 provided in the sleeve I62.

When an electrical circuit is completed through the coil I45, the movable armature or solenoid plunger I6I will be drawn downward toward the stationary armature I4I until it contacts with a non-magnetic plate I66 placed on the stationary armature I to prevent sticking of the movable armature or solenoid plunger I6I to the said stationary armature. The shaft or rod 36 will not commence to move immediately, nor until the partially closed end of the sleeve I62 contacts in a clockwise direction, said shaft or rod 35 will be moved downward, and the length of the space I66 between the closed end of sleeve I62 and the disk I61 will become greater, because the threads provided on the sleeve I39 and I68 are cut in a right hand direction, thus allowing the armature or solenoid-plunger I6I to travel a greater distance before therod or shaft 36 begins to move downward. If, however, the adjusting sleeve I66 is turned in a contraclockwise direction, the length of thespace between the partially closed end of sleev -I62-and the disk I61 will-become less, thus allowing the armature or solenoid plunger IN to travel a shorter distance before the shaft or rod 36 commences to move. In order to hold the adjusting sleeve I66 in any we determined position, there is provided a series of serrations or notches I 1I onthe outer wall of. the adjusting sleeve I63ywhich are engaged by a spring I12 held to the magnetic tripper assembly by the cylindrical nut I39.

In Fig. 9 is shown'a circuit diagram for use in remote controL-bywhich I mean the operation of the flash synchronizer from a distance. This is done by connecting suitable plugs I13, I14 to connectors 63, 54 (Fig. 10), and by attaching a wire I16 to the conneotorplug' I13 and attaching a wire I11 to the connector plug I 14, said wires I16, I11 being connected to a suitable switch I18. When the switch I19 is operated, a circuit is completed through the connectors 63, 64 in precisely the same manner as if the button 48 had been pressed.

The circuit diagram of the flash synchronizer equipment when the magnetic tripper is used on a front or between-the-lens shutter is shown in Fig. 10, from which it appears that the batteries 13 and 14 are connected in series and then to ground, the ground in this instance being the battery case 26 made up, as stated, of the upper section 46 anda lower section. To the positive terminal 12a, Fig. 5, of the battery 13 is connected the strip 16 which is connected to the contact or connector 64. The auxiliary lamp blub I I9 has contact with one side of the positive connector 16, and the base I26 of said lamp bulb .II9 has contact with the contact strip I23, as

shown in dotted lines in'Fig. 10. Connected to the plug 63 is the center contact 19 which makes 7 contact with the lower lamp contact I69. The current then passes through the filament of the flash lamp 29, through the base to the ground (namely, the battery case 26). The connectors 66 and H are also connected to ground and the connector plug 69 1s connected to plug 53, connector plug 12 being connected to the plugs 69 and 53. When the magnetic tripper is used, the plug 66 is connected to wire I and the current passes through coil I45 to wire I56 and then to connector plug 69. The coil I45, flash lamp 29, and plugs. ll, 12 are in parallel, and the plugs 53, 54 are in series with flash lamp 29 and the battery, made up of the cells Iii-and I4 in the present instance. a

I will now trace through such 01' the various combinations of circuitsdn .the operation of the photo-flash equipment herein set forth as particularlyconcem the invention herein claimed.

It will first be assumed 'that it is desired to make a so-called open and shut photo-flash, meaning, as already stated, that the camera shutter is set on the bulb" position and is in that position when the operating or shutter release lever 94 is pressed, the shutter being open and remaining open until the said lever 941s, released. In making this type of exposure the battery cas is placed on the camera as shown in Figs. 1

and 4. The plug 39 and the cable 92 are not in place. and thereis no magnetic tripper attached to the shutter. it having been removed from the lens board, it being removably mounted therein by means of the bracket I39. .A flash lamp 29 is placedin the socket Jaws 41, 41 and the auxiliary lamp contact is pushed upwardly, thereby causing a beam of light to be projected in the direction of the object to be photographed. The clamp 24 is thrown downward and the battery case 29' ter in the reflector, the most economical use of the light from said flash lamp is made in taking the photograph. After the suitable adjustment has been made, the contact button 19 is moved downwardly, thus extinguishing the auxiliary lamp bulb and the operator then aligns his camera in any well known manner such as through the optical view flnder. The shutter release or operating lever 94 is then depressed and at the same time the contact button 48 is pressed inwardly and then immediately both buttons are released. The pressure on the shutter release or operating lever 34 will have opened the shutter, and the pressure on the contact knob 49 will have caused theflash lamp 29 to become illuminated and the release of-pressure on said release or operating lever 94 will have allowed the shutter to close. No further pressure will be required on the contact knob 49 since when the flash lamp 29 is ignited its circuit is opened.

When making a flash exposure with the use of the focal-plane shutter, the contact lever 49 is iclded downwardly, and the connector plug 52 is connected to contacts 53 and 54. The said plug 52 is attached to a cable having on its op- '39 is properly aligned from the object to be photographed. The front shutter is set on time in the open condition and the back shutter is ready to make an exposure upon releasing the focalplane-shutter release lever (not here shown).

The structure of such focal-plane shutter and the synchronizing mechanism therefor are fully disclosed in my said Patent No. 2,188,065. When the shutter is released. the curtain travels downwardly and at a predetermined point, the said contacts are bridged or connected together by a metallic tab or element on the shutter curtain.

Referring to Fig. 10, inasmuch as the connector 59 is connected with one of the contacts of the focal plane shutter, and the connector 54 is connected with the other contact of said shutter, a circuit will have been closed between them. thus allowing current to flow from the batteries I9, I4, through the positive contact strip 15, conhector 54,'the cable and contacts for said'focal planeshutter, connector 53, to the lamp contact button 19,.lamp contact I09, through the filament of the flash lamp 29, to the socket members 41, to ground, which is the battery case, and from ground or battery case to the opposite side of the battery, thus completing the circuit through the photo-flash lamp 29 and causing it to become ignited.

When it is desired to make a photo-flash exposure using the front or between-the-lens shutter, a flash lamp 29 is inserted in the socket jaws whatever speed it is desired to use. The shutter 41, 41, and the connector plug 39 is connected to socket 61, thus connecting'the magnetic tripper iii to the electrical CliCliit of battery case 29. The said battery case is positioned in the manner previously described, so as to ensure the most .emcient use of the light from the flash lamp 29.

The focal-plane shutter is set in the open position. The between-the-lens shutter is set for is then cocked by moving the lever I13 from the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. l to the position shown in solid lines therein, the release or but not sufflciently far to trip the shutter.

I wardly operating lever 34 having been previously connected to the magnetic tripper 3| by means or the clevis 31, a bar'38 and shaft, as previously described.

The release or operating lever 34 will now be in the position shown in Fig. 2, depressed part way The contact bar 49 and the button 49 will be in the position shown in Fig. 4. and pressure on the button 49 will close the contacts 53 and 54. Current will then flow from batteries 13, I4 through positive contact strip-I6, connector 54, contact disk I29, connector 53, connector button 19, contact I08 through the filament of flash lamp 29, to base 88 and socket jaws 41, 41 and thence to ground, completing: the circuit through the flash lamp 29. The connector 68 is also connected to ground and connector 69 is connected to spring II4, which contacts with the sleeve of the conbutton I9 has its circuit as previously described, current will also flow through the magnetic tripper winding I45 and through cable 92, which is made up of wires I55, I56. The shaft or rod of magnetic tripper 3| will be caused to move downin the manner previously. described through its connection with the movable armature or solenoid plunger IGI. The release or operating lever 34'wi1l then be moved downward as indicated by the dotted line position of the connecting bar 36 in Fig. 2, thus releasing the shuttel, flashing the lamp 29 and causing an exposure to be made.

It will be understood from the foregoing description thatI have provided a photo-flash synchronizing equipment having a great many advantages and improvements over existing synchronizer equipments known to me. Attention is particularly directed to the construction of the Inasmuch as the connector 7 means for the shutter i movement.

magnetic tripper ll, whichis such that the movable armature or solenoid plunger "I is in a free state at the instant oi making an exposure; that is,.the said armature or solenoid plunger has only to overcome the action of spring I64, which has Just suflicient strength to hold the said armature or solenoid plunger in the'all-the-way-up position. The said armature or solenoid plunger starts downward when a circuit is completed through the coil I. and it gains considerable momentum before the shaft or rod 35 has started to move under the influence of disk I61, then the inertia of armature or solenoid plunger IBI is added to the magnetic pull, thus causing the shutter to be'operated with ya coil winding of relatively high resistance. Since the photo-flash lamp is and the magnetictripper 3| are'in parallel at the instant of exposure and since the voltage of flash-light batteries used in synchronizer equipments drops very rapidly can load of low resistance is connected across them, it is highly important tohavea magnetic tripper that will work with very low drain on the battery, so

that there will be very'little voltage-dropacross the fllament of the flash lamp.

It will be apparent that the lower the voltage drop at the instant of making an exposure, the moreaccurate will be the timing of both the magnetic tripper and the flashing oi the illsment of the flash lamp. Only by the construction of a magnetic tripper as herein disclosed has it been possible to provide a tripper making economical use of the battery current. This has been proven through long testing of the herein disclosed equipment, by a number of operators.

In a test of this equipment, a hundred photoflash pictures were made, the same batteries being used throughout the entire test, and the timing of the flash and the magnetic tripper operating the shutter was still as accurate at the so end of such test as at'the commencement thereof. Inasmuch as those pictures were all made in rapid sequence, this was a much more severe test than would ordinarily take place, since usually pictures are taken with longer intervals between consecutive pictures, thus allowing the batteries to'recuperate.

Having thus described one embodiment, with several indicated uses. 0! the invention, it is to be understood that although speciflc terms are employedthey ar'eusedinagenerlcanddescripfive sense and not forpurposes of limitation, the

eoopeoitheinventionbeingsetforthinthefoli. In for synchronizingthe flring of a flash lamp, with the aehiationoi the operatin! means trippe'rhaving aooil and asoienoid plunger which latter is movable, by energization ofsaid coil, in a direction toactuate said shutter operating means but which solenoid plunger has always an unvarying starting position, there being a free-sliding lost-motion connection between said plunger and-said shutter operating means;

- a circuit having an operating switch and includimsaidcoilandtheflashlammandreadilyac- 2. Aconstmetionaccording to claim 1 iii which movement ofthe plunger includes a movable member connected to the operating means of the shutter and also includes another member carried by the said tripper and adjustable thereon, said two members having interengageable formations to cause upon engagement the movement of the shutter operating means, and thus constituting means to provide for the said lost motion between said plunger and said member that is connected to the operating means of the shutter, said adjustable member by its adjustment varying the extent of said lost motion.

3. A construction according to claim 1 but in which, to vary such distance of movement of the solenoid plunger, the said shutter tripper is provided with a member adjustable lengthwise the movement of the solenoid plunger and a' member is connected to the operating means of the -with a sleeve in and the operating means for the camera shutter extends into said sleeve, said sleeve and said operating means having interengageable operating formations, and thus constituting means to provide for the said lost motion between said plunger and the operating means for the camera shutter, the extent of said lost motion being determined by said sleeve I68.

5. A construction according to claim 1 but in which. to vary such distance of movement of the solenoid plunger, the shutter tripper is provided with an adiustable sleeve I" and the operating means for the camera shutter extends into said adjustable sleeve, said sleeve and said operating meanshaying interenga'geable operating formations. thesaid solenoid plunger having a sleeve into which the said operating means for the 'shutter extends and providing for lost moflon y of a camera shutter; an eiectro-magnetic shutter therebetween, said latter sleeve and said operating means having interengageable formations to cause movement upon such engagement of said operating means.

8. A construction according to claim 1 but in which the solenoid plunger is provided with a sleeve I61 and a rod as isconnected to the operating means of the shutter, and is received within said sleeve and provides for such lost motion between ssid plunger and said rod 3!, said sleeve and rod having interengageable formations which upon energimtion of the said coil causes operating movement of said rod 35.

'I. In mechanism for synchronizing the flring of a flash lamp withthe actuation oi the operat- I cessible, manually-manipulable means'to vary ing means of a camerashutter, an electro-magnetic shutter tripper having a coil and a solenoid plunger, which latter is movable by energization of said coil in a direction to actuate said shutter operating means; a circuit having an operating switch and including said coil and the ilash lamp: said plunger having an extending sleevelike member. and a rod connected to the operating means of the camera shutterand extending into said sleeve and providing for free-sliding lost-motion connection between said plunger and such distanceofts saidrod,

said'rod and sleeve having interengage able formations to compel movement of said rod upon such engagement. V

wise movement thereto without movement of the solenoid plunger.

9. In mechanism forsynchronizing; the flring of a flash lamp with the actuation of the operating means of a camera shutter, an electro-magnet shutter tripper having a coil' and a solenoid plunger, which latter is movable by energization oi said coil in a direction to actuate said shutter operating means; a circuit having an operating 'energization; and a sleeve threaded upon the shutter tripper and having an inturned part to engage the said lateral projection I10 andupon adjustment to vary the position of said rod I, thereby varying the distance that the solenoid plunger travels upon venergization or the coil, before imparting operating movement to said rod 35. a

12 In mechanism for synchronizing the firing of a flash lamp with the actuation of the operating means of a camera shutter; an electro-magnetic shutter tripper having a coil and a solenoid plungenwhich latter is movable by energization of said coil in a direction to actuate said shutter operating means; a circuit having an operating switch and including said coil and the flash lamp; the camera having a lens board proswitch and including said coil and the flash lamp;

a sleeve connectedto andiextending lengthwise beyond said plunger toward the shutter operating means and having a partly closed end formation, a rod 85 connectedito the operating means or the camera shutter extending into said sleeve and having a lateral formation to be engaged by said partly closed end formation, and providing for tree-sliding lost-motion connection therebetween, and whereby upon engagement 01 such vided witha tripper supporting bracket I38, cap I39 screwed upon the tripper structure and holding the latter and; said bracket together, a lengthwise adjustable sleeve I68 upon said cap and: having a partly closed end, an operating rod 35 having a clevis means for connecting'the same to the operating means 01' the camera shutter;

formations the operating means of the camera tance that the solenoid plunger travels before 1 moving said rod 35, is varied. s i

' 10..In mechanism iorsynchronizing the firing I of a flash lamp with the actuation of the operating means of a camera shutter; anelectro-maga sleeve I62 connected to'an end oi'said solenoid plunger and having acoiled supporting spring,

said rod having a lateral formation I10 to 162, and thereby cause mov ment oi said operat ing rod :5. I

3. In mechanism for synchronizing the of a flash lamp with the actuation "of the operating means of a camera shutter; an electro-magnetic shutter tripper having a coil and a solenoid plunger, which latter is movable, by energization netic shutter tripper having a coil'and a solenoid-v plunger, which latter is movable by energization 1 01' said coil'ina direction to actuate said shutter 'operatingxmeans but which solenoid plunger has always an unvarying starting position; acircuit or said coil, in a direction to actuatesaid shutter operating meansfa circuit having an operating switch and including said coil and the flash lamp; and means so to position and support the solenoid plunger and including a. light supports ing spring of Just'the requisite strength to hold having an operating switch and including saidcoil and the flash lamp; saidtripper having a stationary armature Ill within said coil, to which stationary armature the solenoid plunger moves upon each energizatlon of said coil; and readilysaid plunger in its all-the-way-up position until the energizstion of said coil, that said'plunger,

excepting for said spring, is inja free state at the tro-magnetic shutter tripper mountable upon the ing means of a camera'shutter; an electro-magnetic shutter tripper having a coil and asolenoid plunger, which latter is movable by energization 01 said coil in a direction to actuate said shutter 7 operating means; a circuit having an operating switch and including said cell and the flash lamp;

a rod 85 having. meansto connect the same to direction of magnetic pull of the said coll upon in connecting said rod or shaft 35 to said resaidlens board of thecamera, so as to be readily removed therefrom, and provided with a coil and a solenoid plunger that is movable by energization of said coil in a direction to actuate the shutter release lever; a rod or shaft 35 co-axially supported with respect to the said solenoid plunger so as to be moved in a path co-axially therewith by movement oi! said solenoid plunger; and, means also positioned in said co-axial path lease'lever, said connecting means being 01 a structure permitting ready separation of the parts, thereby permitting ready removal of the said electro-magnetic tripper from the lens I l V s 15. In mechanism for synchronizing the flring of a flash lamp with the actuation of the operating means of a camera having a lens board with a shutter provided with a release lever; an electro-magnetic shutter tripper mountable upon the said lens board of the camera, so as to be readily removed therefrom, and provided with a coil and a transversely extending part directly connected to said rod or shaft 35 in said co-axial path, a

clevis connected to said transversely extending part in said co-axial path'; and means to connect said clevis to said release lever.

16. In mechanism for synchronizing the firing v 01 a flash lamp with the actuation of the operatin: means of a camera shutter; an electro-magnetic shutter tripper having a coil and a solenoid plunger movable by energization of said coil in a direction to actuate said shutter operating means, but which solenoid plunger has always an unvarying starting position; lost-motion connection means between said solenoid plunger and said shutter operating means; a circuit having an operating switch and including said coil and the flash lamp; and means for manually adjusting and thereby varying the time delay between the action of the said shutter tripper and the said shutter operating means, including means for varying, through said lost-motion connection means, the distance of movement of the said solenoid plunger through said lost-motion connection means under the magnetic pull oi said coil from said unvarying starting'position to its shutter operating position.

' OSCAR STEINER. 

